Graduation

I like graduation ceremonies because they are very emotional plus I get some good reading in. Two hours of just sitting and reading are nothing to sneeze at.

The colleague who had attended the African American graduation pointed out something I’d never registered before. Not even 20% of African American graduates are male. So this is another reason why so many of these degrees are in community-oriented (i.e. underpaid) professions.

Our new Provost is very mumbly, so I have no idea what she even said. But there was a really cool speech by a local politician who was one of the first supporters of Barack Obama. This obviously drew thunderous cheers and applause from the audience.

After the ceremony was over, I did something I only do once a year: I ran. The only thing that can induce me to do so is the fear of getting stuck in an enormous traffic jam when the graduates and their guests try to leave campus. I even drove back with my robes on because I couldn’t waste a second to take them off.

Graduations are long and quite dull until it’s your part to give a diploma, receive a diploma and/or speak. And that’s when it’s your graduation. I’m sure half the graduates were texting while waiting to receive their diploma or listening to the speeches.

. I even drove back with my robes on because I couldn’t waste a second to take them off.
That is impressive haste because graduation robes are sweaty and stinky. [The rental ones are not cleaned. Even with regular drycleaning they trap odors and sweat.]

How the heck do you manage to read? The distraction isn’t a problem, it’s the fact that at our graduation ceremonies all academics have to sit on the stage facing the audience, and are expected to applaud every student, which gets in the way of doing anything other than faking interest and enthusiasm. Even on the back row you’re still pretty visible to graduands, families etc., and reading would seem pretty rude.